Community leaders in Iboje District of Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, have expressed concern over the sudden disappearance of one of their members, Ms Iyabo Elizabeth Asemoloye, arising from death threats against her and members of her family.
Leader of the household, Chief Gabriel Asemolye, lodged the complaint in an interview with our correspondent.
He revealed that the crisis in Iboje started in 2015 following the death of the last Asemo of Iboje, a High Chief, leaving succession dispute to the coveted throne between Asemoloye and Akinbola ruing houses.
“The problem started when the selection process for who will be the new Asemo began and got boiled up to the extent that thugs were recruited to keep escalating prospective opponents.
“Normally, the position should rotate between Asemo and Akinbola ruling houses and according to that order , I’m next in line to ascend the throne, but my opponent from Akinbola ruling house think otherwise,” he explained.
Chief Asemoloye lamented that all attempts to convene meetings for dialogue were rebuffed by the Akinbola ruling house, following which the latter started launching mortal attacks against perceived influences in his household.
“In the process, they succeeded in eliminating two members of my family within two years, tagging them as my sponsors.
“First, unknown persons killed my nephew, Benson Olanrewaju, who was just promoted to the position of Director at the Ondo State Local Government Service Commission, in 2019.
“Till, date, the death is befuddling as no investigation has been conducted on it.
“Only last year too, Olanrewaju’s immediate younger sister, Mrs Esther Odunayo, was killed in similar circumstances, in their possible belief that she had close connection with approving authorities to endorse my candidature,” he lamented.
Chief Asemoloye expressed concern that her niece, Elizabeth Asemoloye and her family members, especially, her spouse, Mr. Rufus Morakinyo Adetomiwa, are currently under death threat from the same killer squad.
“Now, they have all gone into hiding in fear of sudden death, and we are sick of reporting at police stations as nothing came out of such previous reports,” he complained.